Stick with pale paints

10 easy ways to get classic cottage style

Make an artistic statement & add some sparkle

Choose flea market paintings with weathered frames to provide contrast in a traditional room. A simple floral still life looks like a million bucks over a formal fireplace mantel. Create a sense of occasion with the addition of a stunning chandelier and crystal candle holders. In a grand dining room, there's no such things as too much glitter.

Design Lesson

10 easy and elegant holiday decorating ideas to try this year

What’s better than chic, sophisticated holiday style? The ability to achieve it with ease. Here are 10 tips to simplify your next festive soiree.

Last year, when homeowners Pamela Schott and Sheldon Pollack moved into this 7,500-square-foot five-bedroom century home in Toronto’s Forest Hill neighbourhood, they merged more than just their families (he has three 30-somethings; she has two kids; and four of the five live at the house part-time). The couple, who will wed next year, also blended their approaches to the holidays. To that end, their seasonal decor is sophisticated and minimalist, glamorous and uncluttered, neither too gimmicky nor too theme-y. For Pamela and Sheldon, it’s all about simplicity. Though they enjoy entertaining – the couple loves to host a holiday drop-in – they always keep it effortless. “A party is about the friends, family, wine, appetizers and conversation,” says Pamela, who makes creating a relaxed atmosphere her priority. “It’s about the event, not the planning.” Here, we highlight 10 ways Pamela and Sheldon execute their elegant holiday style with ease.

1 Choose function: A petite potted rosemary tree gives the kitchen counter holiday flair with purpose. Well into the new year, it will serve as a source of fresh decoration for place settings and garnish for themed cocktails.

2 Make strategic splurges: Don’t stress about baking in the days leading up to your party. If you lack the time and the piping skills, splurge on artfully adorned cookies iced in your home’s colour scheme for a scrumptious statement.

3 Stay simple: A bouquet of white amaryllis is an understated accent that’s synonymous with winter but doesn’t scream “holidays.” Buy the blooms a few days before your event so they’re at their prime when guests arrive.

4 Lay it down: Getting festive garlands to swag just right can take a lot of fussing. So if you want to gussy up your windows in a flash, layer cuttings of greenery on your windowsills instead. Here, Douglas fir and magnolia leaves add a luxe touch.

5 Accent the architecture: Draw attention to eye-catching structural features like leaded glass windows with beautiful holiday wreaths that accentuate the details but don’t steal the show.

6 Make room for more: Use a bowl to hold gorgeous Christmas ornaments that didn’t make it onto the tree for a simple centrepiece or coffee table accent.

7 Wrap it up: No pot? No problem! Use a swath of grey linen fabric secured with decorative ribbon to dress up the base of a tabletop tree. This unconventional feature lends a festive touch to an otherwise unadorned space.

8 Come out from under the tree: Take your gift wrapping to the next level with finishing details like sculptural toppers and layered ribbons. Don’t just place presents under the tree: Artfully arrange them on various nearby surfaces for vignettes that suit the season.

9 Mix metallics: Sticking to a gold and silver palette makes decorating the tree almost effortless. Look for a mix of shimmering materials, from beading to mercury glass to metallic fabrics, so you don’t have to think too hard about even distribution.

10 Make it a team effort: Whether it’s decorating the tree, hanging wreaths or wrapping presents, holiday tasks are more easily executed as a team. Get your tools out ahead of time, gather the family and put on your favourite holiday tunes to set the mood – you’ll be done before you can say “cool yule!”

2 On a baking sheet, toss the mushrooms and squash with 2 tablespoons of the olive oil and salt and pepper.

3 Arrange in a single layer and roast until tender, about 18 minutes.

4 While the vegetables roast, strip the stems from the kale leaves, then cut the leaves into bite-sized pieces. Thinly slice the garlic. In a large pan, heat the remaining olive oil over medium heat until shimmering. Add the kale and garlic and cook until the kale is wilted and bright green, about 4 minutes. Season with salt and pepper; set aside.

5 Remove the roasted mushrooms and squash from the oven and reduce the oven temperature to 400°F. Using a fork or spoon, mash the squash.

6 To make the béchamel sauce, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. When the butter is foamy, sprinkle in the flour and whisk until the mixture is smooth and golden, about 2 minutes. Slowly pour in the milk, whisking continuously, until no lumps remain. Simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sauce is thick and coats the back of a spoon, 6 to 7 minutes. Season with the nutmeg, salt and pepper. Add 1/4 cup of the Parmesan, stirring to combine; remove the pot from the heat.

7 Spread a thin layer of the béchamel sauce over the bottom of a 9" x 13" baking dish. Add a layer of the lasagna noodles, followed by a layer of squash and mushrooms, the kale, more sauce and a sprinkle of Parmesan. Repeat to make 2 more layers: noodles, vegetables, sauce and Parmesan. Top with a final layer of noodles and the remaining béchamel sauce. Sprinkle with the remaining Parmesan and the Gruyère.

8 Loosely cover the dish with foil, transfer to the oven and bake until the lasagna is bubbling, about 30 minutes.

9 Increase the oven temperature to 450°F.

10 Uncover the lasagna and continue baking until golden, about 10 minutes longer. Remove from the oven and allow to cool completely before cutting into pieces. Wrap with foil and store in the fridge for up to 5 days or in the freezer for up to 1 month. To reheat, microwave the lasagna or warm it, covered, in the oven at 350°F.

Gift Guides

10 delightful gift ideas for kids of all ages

Gift Guides

10 delightful gift ideas for kids of all ages

The children on your holiday shopping list are sure to love these unique and interactive gift ideas.

Shopping for kids can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially during the holidays. To keep the little ones on your holiday shopping list happy, we've rounded up some of our favourite fun and interactive gift ideas. Perfect for children of all ages, these items are sure to bring joy and excitement over the holidays.

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10 delightful gift ideas for kids of all ages

1 Colour Your Own Puzzle

Colouring books will always be a popular gift. This year, gift your little Picasso with a unique spin on the classic colouring book - a puzzle they can colour themselves! Colour Your Own Puzzle, Winners, $12.99.

By: Style at Home
Source: Winners

10 delightful gift ideas for kids of all ages

2 Interactive Toothbrush

A toothbrush that gets kids excited about brushing is a win-win for parents and children. Featuring an interactive app you can sync to your smart device and customizable stickers - what's not to love! Philips Sonicare for Kids, Walmart, $59.99.

By: Style at Home
Source: Philips

10 delightful gift ideas for kids of all ages

3 Design Your Own Marble Maze

Perfect for the creative kid on your shopping list. This DIY marble maze allows players to design their own experience, challenge opponents and even features a fun virtual reality viewer. Seedling Marble Maze, Indigo, $74.95.

By: Style at Home
Source: Indigo

10 delightful gift ideas for kids of all ages

4 Play Tent

When it's just too cold to play outside, this fun caravan-style tent is the perfect for letting creativity and imagination flourish indoors. HEMMAHOS Children's tent, IKEA, $39.99.

10 delightful gift ideas for kids of all ages

6 Cookie Cutter Set

This cookie cutter set is a great way to combine a young Jedi masters love for baking holiday treats and their obsession with all things Star Wars. Star Wars™ 8-Piece Cookie Cutter Set, Williams-Sonoma, $29.95.

By: Style at Home
Source: Williams-Sonoma

10 delightful gift ideas for kids of all ages

7 Festive Bath Robe

Wrap a cozy robe up with hot chocolate mix and a classic Christmas movie and you've got the perfect go-to holiday gift for any kid. Bath robe, Joe Fresh, $22.

By: Style at Home
Source: Joe Fresh

10 delightful gift ideas for kids of all ages

8 Tiggly Learner Kit

Kids will love this fun, interactive, and imaginative way to learn math, language and shapes. Designed for use with your tablet, each subject has its own games and interactive toys. Tiggly Learner Kit, Best Buy, $99.99.

By: Style at Home
Source: Best Buy

10 delightful gift ideas for kids of all ages

9 Board Game

Add a new addition to family game night with a classic like Scrabble. Fun for the whole family, this vintage edition comes in a stylish, linen-wrapped book. Scrabble Vintage Bookshelf Edition, Indigo, $49.95.

By: Style at Home
Source: Indigo

10 delightful gift ideas for kids of all ages

10 Festive stuffed toy

Build-A-Bear Workshop's newest reindeer collection means from start to finish your children can put their own unique spin on creating the seasonal stuffed toy of their dreams. Glisten, Twinkle and Tinsel Reindeer, Build-A-Bear Workshop, prices vary.